From Glacier Country down to Haast and on to my most favourite place!

The drive from the Glacier Country down to Haast has some stunning coastal scenery as the road winds it way around towards Haast. There are a few places along the way to take some happy snaps and there's a particular place along the coastline of Haast where piles of white stones caught our eye. 

We pulled over to have a look and found that travellers from all over the world had been leaving their names, the date and where they were from written on the stones. Of course we felt obliged to add ours to the pile.

It's not a particularly long section of coastline, but it's certainly beautiful and we enjoyed spending almost an hour reading some of the messages on the stones and going down to the beach to leave some little piles of cairns.  Even the driftwood was a rich beautiful rusty red colour.  

Following the road some more and we came across more farmland, plus one place that had an honesty box with fresh farm eggs in the Makarora area.  Naturally, we couldn't leave those by the side of the road, so left some money for a carton of their delicious eggs.  

The farmland is so green and I never get tired of those views. A little further along and you cross another of those beautiful crystal clear blue rivers before you come to Thunder Creek Falls. The falls are a pleasant short walk from the car park area and the falls were living up to their name the day we were there.

Around the same area as the falls, is the turn off to the Blue Pools of Haast, however, they are still on my to do list so will have to look at those on a future visit.

A little south of Makarora on the right, you will see your first glimpse of Lake Wanaka, the 4th largest lake in New Zealand. Within a very short space of time on the left, you will see the top end of Lake Hawea.  The road then pretty much follows the lake around to the township of Hawea.  

From there you go through Albert Town which is the Clutha and Hawea Rivers meet. Albert Town had until recently been more of a farming settlement, however, population growth in the area has also seen Albert Town grow a little more.

Albert Town is just a 10 minute drive from my favourite place.. Wanaka!

A little more of the West Coast - Jade and Glacier Country

The West Coast is home to Jade Country - Pounamu or Greenstone as it is known to New Zealanders.  This beautiful stone has many variations in colour and there are some incredibly beautiful pieces to be found in the some of the shops and galleries along the West Coast.  

There are a few of these in Hokitika including one an open workshop where you can watch the talents of the crafts people. This place also had some larger breath taking creations as well. Pounamu has a treasured spiritual significance and was historically used by Maori people for weapons, tools and personal items.  

Hokitika is approximately a 35 minute drive south of Greymouth and is also home to the Hokitika Gorge which is one of those must do type of places. The gorge is about 33 kms from Hokitika and the road is full of twists and turns, however, don't give up on it because again, the scenery is spectacular.

There is a short walk from the car park to a viewing platform where the colour of the water below is something else! There is a swing bridge you can walk across to the other side where you will see the rugged ravine and be much closer to the extraordinary blue water.

From Hokitika, you drive down towards the Glacier Country where you will find two of the most accessible glaciers - Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers.

Franz Josef has a lovely little township with a number of places you can stay.  The West Coast Wildlife Centre is located there and you are able to do a tour to see the kiwi birds.

If you're staying a night or two in Franz Josef, then I'd recommend the Glacier Hot Pools where you can relax in the larger public pool or take the option of a private pool.  We had a private pool which was blissful and decadent.  

If you're a fan of Thai food then the King Tiger Eastern Eating House and Bar is the place for you.  The food is delicious and the atmosphere is great.

On the outskirts of Franz Josef, you will find the road heading towards the glacier. It's an impressive sight to see the terminal face of the glacier from the carpark! For those who are fit and adventurous, there is a walk to the terminal face and for those who don't feel up to the hike, there is a short walk to Peter's Pool Reflection. It's a beautiful peaceful spot where you can sit and enjoy the reflection of the terminal face and snow capped mountains.

A half hour drive south of Franz Josef will take you to Fox Glacier where again you are able to see the terminal face. The other thing you may notice is the sound of aircraft and if you look up, you will regularly see helicopters in the sky doing glacier tours.

There is a short walk from the car park to a space where you can get some great views of the terminal face of Fox Glacier and see some of the sheer rocks leading in.

I don't know that I'd quite have the courage to do a helicopter flight up to the glaciers, I love the idea but I'm not a fan of flying at the best of times and the thought of doing that in a helicopter is something else again. Who knows?  One day in my dotage I may find the courage!

The West Coast

The west coast of the South Island has a rugged raw beauty and according to Lonely Planet is one of the top 10 scenic coastal drives in the world.  I've not driven the entire length, however, have been up as far as the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes.

It was a cool cloudy and somewhat foggy rainy day when we visited, however, that didn't stop us from getting out and doing the 20 minute loop walk to view the rocks and the blowholes. Absolutely magnificent!  I'd love to also see them in clear weather one day.  

The blowholes were big and very impressive, probably due in part to the weather the day we visited.  There is also lots of bird in the area and some of them nest among the rocks. Mother nature sure is amazing! 

After our walk in the cold and wet, we were able to go across the road where there is a little roadside pancake cafe.  Their pancakes are delicious and it was a great way to round off the visit.

Greymouth is one of the larger towns on the west coast and is where the train line goes to when you catch the Tranz Alpine Train.  It's a bit like the landing point for arriving on the west coast.  

There is a walkway along the coastal side of town where there is a monument and memorial to miners who died in a mine accident.  We spent a little time there reading what was written and counting our blessings.

I thought I'd try doing a slightly shorter post this time as many of my posts so far have been quite long, so will continue on with the west coast in my next post.  Although, having said that, I tend to keep writing when I'm on a roll so I can't guarantee my next post will be a shorter one too!

Christchurch to the West Coast

There are a couple of ways you can do this trip - by car or on the Tranz-Alpine Train. Both have stunning scenery to enjoy along the way, so you won't be disappointed which ever way you choose to get there.

Last year, my partner and I drove to the west coast, starting out from Akaroa and staying overnight in Arthur's Pass, which is the highest and most spectacular pass across the Southern Alps.  It climbs to more than 900 metres through Arthur's Pass National Park.

As with most parts of NZ, the scenery is diverse and simply beautiful.  There are a couple of little towns you can stop at along the way to Arthur's Pass and I recall one where there was a lovely park area along a creek or river.

The scenery out of Christchurch was lush green fields with snow capped mountains in the background (we were travelling in spring) and the road is initially fairly straight. Along the way, you will see the wide shingle filled river beds and vast swathes of beech forest as described perfectly in the 100% Pure New Zealand website.

Eventually as you make your way closer to Arthur's Pass, the road becomes more winding and the scenery changes as you head into the Southern Alps.  For those fascinated by engineering, this is definitely the road (or rail trip) for you!  It has viaducts, bridges, rock shelters and waterfalls channeled into chutes. 

If you are planning to do this as a road trip, my #1 tip is to ensure you fuel up your vehicle before leaving Christchurch as fuel was a staggering $10 a litre in Arthur's Pass in 2015.  

The township has approximately 30 residents and while there is a store, it only stocks a limited supply of the basics which are also quite expensive.  This brings me to my #2 tip - if you're planning a stay, then buy whatever you think you may need from Christchurch before leaving.

You will find the Wobbly Kea Cafe in Arthur's Pass, which has a limited but reasonably tasty menu.  Again, a little pricey, but in line with what you'd expect in the area.  

We stayed at the Arthur's Pass Alpine Motel which I'd highly recommend.  The people there were warm, welcoming, friendly and helpful! They recommended places to go and things to see.

It had been raining heavily on and off during the time we were there which limited us somewhat as we'd originally had plans to do some walks in the area.  However, we did manage a relatively short walk to a gorgeous little waterfall up behind the church in town and a visit to the Tourist Information place before getting rained on again. Arthur's Pass is on my list of places to go back to so I can enjoy a bit longer walk in the area.

The remainder of our road trip across to Greymouth on the West Coast, was also somewhat rainy so we didn't really stop as we'd anticipated we might.  

I did the same trip on the Tranz Alpine Rail this year (2016), although I traveled about 2 months earlier than the trip we'd taken last year.  There wasn't a great difference in the amount of snow about, however, this year's trip was taken in sunshine rather than rainy weather which was a little friendlier for taking photo's.

That said, I found it somewhat challenging to take pics on the train that weren't too blurry!  The train is a lovely relaxing way to travel and while I don't know that you see much more scenery than you do by road, the difference is that the road isn't alongside the rail track the entire way so you may see the scenery closer up and you're not driving so you have time to gander out the windows.  On the train, you also get some great views of some of the engineering feats I mentioned earlier and the scenery around them.

There is an open air carriage on the train especially for those wishing to take photos, but it does get a little chilly at times! Some great views to be seen and take photo's of but again, the difference between a road trip and a train trip is you can stop whenever you want to take pics on a road trip (providing there's somewhere to pull over), so there's less of the blurry factor.

There is a brief stop at Arthur's Pass where you can get off the train to stretch your legs, take a pic or two, then get back on the train.  There is another stop at Moana which is on the Lake for people who wish to get off, enjoy a walk and/or a picnic and catch the train on it's return journey about an hour or so later.

I found the train trip really enjoyable, the staff were great, they had a reasonable selection of food on board (I enjoyed a cheese board) and they come around towards the end with delicious NZ ice creams.  It's only about a 4.5 hour trip from Christchurch across to Greymouth so if you're wanting to do a return day trip, then it's quite do-able.

Earthquakes in the land of the long white cloud...

I wrote this post last Tuesday but didn't share as I was still processing it all, as many of us no doubt were.  I've now added some more to the end of the post.

Tuesday, 15th November 2016

Overnight, my beloved New Zealand experienced a number of severe earthquakes in the South Island with the largest registering a 7.8 on the Richter Scale near Hamner Springs. The earthquakes were felt throughout the South Island and also the lower part of the North Island where damage was also sustained.

There has been major damage in the Kaikoura area that I blogged about recently.  I think the most confronting thing for me is seeing the extent of the road damage to roads I drove just two months ago. There was also damage to the Wellington Ferry Terminal where a bridge has collapsed and again, it's only 2 months since I was there.

I guess it begs the question, given it's no real secret that I wish to spend at least a year living in NZ in the not too distant future, would I still go?

The answer is yes, of course I will still go.  After all, I currently live in a country where there are frequent weather events - anything from bush fires to floods to extreme heat and cyclones.  I currently live in an area that experiences cyclones and the unit I live in is directly across from the beach, so it would be front line in a cyclone.

However, does this stop people from living in those areas?  No, it doesn't tend to do so.  What we can do, is be aware and take the necessary precautions.  We also have to realise that events of such magnitude are not daily or even regular (as in yearly for example) events.  This doesn't mean we become complacent, rather it's to add some perspective but also remember the importance of being prepared for events that may be seasonal.

I'm sure there will be much more information to come out over the coming days following the earthquakes and there will no doubt be a number of aftershocks. The large one of 7.8 was unusual in that it lasted around 2-3 minutes, which is much longer than they've usually been known to last in the area.

I hope people are safe.  I know it will take some time to recover and for the shock to ease.  I feel for the children who are often so traumatised and there is a comfort in seeing community come together.  I noticed there is a wildlife park in Christchurch that is opening it's doors to children for free today.

My heart goes out to all those affected in NZ today.

Please note, these are not my pics - they are photo's taken by others in NZ. Another thing to note is the time zone captured on my blog is incorrect.  The local time in Qld Australia is currently 7.34 am.

Updated Saturday, 19th November 2016

What a week!  New Zealand has been experiencing so many aftershocks with three over a magnitude 6.  By 2.30pm yesterday afternoon, there had been 2812 aftershocks many of which have been in the surrounding areas of the original quake.

The sea bed at Kaikoura has been left 2 metres above sea level following the quake and there are concerns that the seal colony at Ohau Point has been devastated.  If you've been following my blog, you will have seen photo's I posted of this area and the seals a couple of weeks ago.

There has been another line of thought that perhaps the seals instinctively knew that the quake was coming, as animals often do tend to have instincts that protect them in these events.  If this is the case, it is hoped they swam further out to sea however the concern is it is breeding season and seals tend to return to their areas to give birth.  Sadly, that area is no longer there (or not in the way it previously was) so hopefully the seals will be able to find another place to have their pups.

I have tried unsuccessfully to include a video clip I took 2 months ago of the seals playing in the water at Ohau Point (just north of Kaikoura), so have added a seal pic plus another pic taken in the area of the beautiful coastline.

Te Anau and Milford Sound

Te Anau is a picturesque little town and is an ideal base for visiting Milford Sound and exploring more of the Fiordland.  It's based in the Southland region of the South Island and I quite enjoyed the couple of days I spent here.

Te Anau sits on the eastern side of the lake and Lake Te Anau itself is the largest lake in the South Island and the second largest in New Zealand, with Lake Taupo in the North Island being the largest.

There are a number of really good restaurants in Te Anau and I had the best pizza I've ever tasted from La Toscana Pizzeria & Spaghetteria.  Follow that up with some delicious gelato from a little place nearby and you've had a night of Italian decadence.

While in Te Anau, if you enjoy a lake cruise, a little adventure and some educational info, you can take a cruise to the Lake Te Anau Glow Worm Caves.  The cruise itself is informative and you learn some of the history of the lake.  As with all of the lakes that I've been to in NZ, Lake Te Anau has some stunning scenery.

After facing a fear and going into caves in Tasmania a few months previous to my visit to the Te Anau caves, these ones took going into caves to a whole new level. 

The entrance to the caves is just over a metre high, so you have to crouch to go through, then it's very dark in there with minimal lighting. You can hear rushing water and the guide will show you a waterfall. 

Eventually you make your way to where a little tiny boat or punt awaits (it only fits around 10-12 people) and you squish in to go on a journey in total silence where it's pitch black with just the very loud sounds of the waterfalls in the caves. 

At times it doesn't feel like you are moving, but you see all these little tiny glow worms on the top of the caves. So pretty! At the end of the boat ride coming out of the caves, we saw an eel and a trout in the waters of the cave.. amazing stuff!

In Te Anau you can also hire little motor scooters.  I was very tempted but hadn't ridden any kind of motorbike/scooter for more years than I care to think about, so I chickened out and then of course, regretted it later.  We only live once eh?

About a 15-20 minute drive from Te Anau is the little town of Manapouri which is situated on the edge of Lake Manapouri. There are a few little shops across the road from the lake and one of these little cafe's does a delicious breakfast.  What could be nicer than great food and awesome views!

From Te Anau, it's almost a 2 hour drive to Milford Sound. Again, it's a rather scenic drive and there are places you can stop along the way to take pics and enjoy the surroundings.  

Unfortunately, I didn't do my homework well enough and I missed seeing The Chasm - also partly due to it pouring rain at the time I went past and if I'd stopped, I'd been late for my cruise.  However, if I'd checked it out prior to my drive, I could easily have worked that in as well rain or no rain.

The Chasm is situated about halfway between the Homer Tunnel and Milford Sound.  It's about a 20 minute return walk into the forest to a series of waterfalls over the Cleddau River.  This bowls and basins in the rocks at the Chasm have been formed from swirling water over thousands of years.  This place is one that's on my bucket list to see next time I'm in the area.

On your drive, you will pass through the Homer Tunnel which is a 1.2 km single lane tunnel that cuts through the Darran Mountain Range.  While waiting to go into the tunnel, there are often the friendly but ever so cheeky and somewhat destructive alpine Kea's who come to check out your car and perhaps snitch a little piece of windscreen rubber to chew.

When you arrive in Milford Sound, there is a little cafe opposite the car park where you can have something to eat or drink before walking over to where you catch the cruise boat.

The day I went out, the weather was very overcast and rainy which gave the Sound a beautiful but somewhat eerie feel to it in places. There is plenty to see on the cruise from wildlife, to the spectacular scenery that includes tree-valanches and waterfalls. I also learnt that a cruise on Milford Sound isn't complete without a glacial facial!

The Catlins

The route from Dunedin to Invercargill is only about two and a half hours, however, if you can spare a whole day for the drive, then the Catlins drive won't disappoint.

There is something for everyone on this drive and you can stop as little or as much as you like.  The Catlins is off the beaten track on the Southern Scenic Route and takes in the area from Kaka Point to Fortrose.

From beautiful rural country to rugged coastline, a petrified forest, lakes and a gorgeous waterfall, not to mention the variety of wildlife you may see along the way, this drive is a wonderful way to spend a day.

The Catlins website has lots of information and maps that include points of interest.  I printed off a map and a list of places I wanted to see along this drive.

I left Dunedin early-ish around 7.30 am as I wanted the time to soak up as much of the scenery as possible.  My final destination was Te Anau, so I had a fair drive ahead of me.

I love the country side in NZ and the area south of Dunedin with it's rolling green hills is as appealing as ever.  

There are numerous little bays around the coastline where various wildlife native to the area can be found and plenty of walking tracks.  There is a variety of shorter walks and longer walks on this trip, so planning ahead is wise if you're wanting to do some further exploration.

My first stop was Kaka Point which gave me a beautiful view of the ocean as I headed towards Nugget Point. I seem to miss the ideal tide times on half of my trips and once again, that was the case on this drive.  

I was unable to see all the 'nuggets' that make up Nugget Point, however, I was able to see the largest one which doesn't go under water and another smaller one beside it. The large one was impressive and had an array of bird life nesting all over it. 

My next stop was Purakaunui Falls. They are a 20 minute return walk in from the car park and are a hidden treasure. A stunningly beautiful waterfall set in among the rainforest.

There were a couple of places I wanted to see that were affected by the tides unfortunately.  One was Cathedral Caves which are only accessible at low tide, so they will have to wait for another day.

Curio Bay is where you will find the Petrified Forest that dates back to the Jurassic Period and this is known as a geological site of International Significance.  Again, the Fossil Forest is best viewed at low tide and you may also be lucky enough to see the protected yellow eyed penguins if you're there later in the day.

A short walk will take you to Porpoise Bay where you can see the Hector Dolphins playing in the surf, although they are more likely to be seen during the summer months apparently.  I've had two attempts to try and see these little dolphins - Porpoise Bay and Akaroa but alas they've been elusive.  One day I'll be successful!

My last stop along this drive was Waipapa Point where there is an historic lighthouse.  As you're driving towards the lighthouse, it looks like it's located in a farmland paddock!  However, as you draw closer, it's past the paddocks and once again, the views are beautiful.  

There is so much more to see than the places I stopped at along this drive.  To do it justice, you probably need to take a couple of days and check the tides before you go for those places that are only visible at low tide.


As I came to the end of the Catlins drive, I managed to get lost in Invercargill for half an hour or more. I somehow missed a turn off, so it was early evening by the time I arrived in Te Anau which made for a rather long day, however, it had been a good one.

Dunedin

As a city, Dunedin is one that I quite like as it has a lot to offer. In the middle of the city, there are the Chinese Gardens which offer a peaceful respite in a beautiful setting.  The gardens are like stepping into a traditional Chinese scenic painting.

Bridges, statues, hand made wooden buildings, hand made tiles and lattice work all crafted by a team of artisans from authentic Chinese materials in Dunedin's sister city, Shanghai. In among all of this are the flowers and trees that make up this beautiful garden.

They also have a tea house where you can enjoy Chinese teas, steamed buns and dumplings in the tranquility of the gardens or the Tea House.  The little gift shop has a delightful array of items that make beautiful gifts for loved ones.

Only a few blocks away, is Cadbury World which is a fun and delicious place to visit. You have the option of doing a self guided tour or a fully guided tour which is a delightful journey through time and all about the world of chocolate.  The guided tour also takes you to a Sensory Lab where you can taste and learn more about the chocolate process.

The gift shop is a chocolate lovers dream and has plenty to offer for all.  There is also a cafe where you can indulge in a range of baked sweets or savoury items with something to suit nearly everyone's taste.

Also in the city is the beautiful Dunedin Railway Station which is said to be the most photographed building in NZ.  The architecture is very grand and the attention to detail is incredible both inside and out.  There is also an art gallery within the station that is sure to have something that appeals to most people.

If you are spending a night in Dunedin, then I'd highly recommend Larnach Castle just for the experience.  Larnach Castle has stunning views across Dunedin, the Otago Harbour and the Peninsula.

The castle is set in among 7 acres of beautifully maintained gardens and you are given a coloured map to help you find your way around.  The gardens are recognised by the NZ Govt as Gardens of International Significance.

The castle itself was built by William Larnach in the 1800's and has a very colourful history.  The early years held much sadness, the earlier 1900's saw it used for a multitude of purposes, a period of abandonment, then a series of different owners before it was bought by the current owners in 1967 by the Barker Family.

I was going to write about more of the detailed history here, but I've decided not to as it may spoil your enjoyment of hearing the story between courses if you ever happen to have dinner at the castle.

There is a variety of accommodation available at Larnach Castle and all accommodation includes entry to the castle and gardens plus a hearty breakfast the next morning in the Stables.  

The first time I stayed at the castle, I stayed in the stable accommodation which is above the original stables where the breakfast area and guest lounge is situated.  The stable accommodation has smaller rooms and shared bathrooms, however, are still quite comfortable.

On my second visit, I stayed in the Lodge accommodation and the room I had was the Victorian Room, complete with beautiful 4 poster bed.  All the rooms are themed and mine also had a window with views over the Otago Harbour and Peninsula.

It's well worth paying a little extra to have dinner at the castle, again just for the experience but also the food is delicious!  Both times I visited I was travelling alone and the first time, had dinner in the dining room with 7 other people. 

It was lovely small group and we got to know each other a little over the meal.  Lots of fun, lots of laughter and the pleasure of hearing the story in between the courses. It was sleeting by the time we all left that evening and although some of us held hope for a spring time snowfall, it wasn't to be.

The second time I stayed, there were many more people so they divided the group and I was among 18 who dined in the music room.  Again, a good night but not quite the intimacy of the small group the first time.

When leaving the next morning, rather than turning back towards Dunedin, drive towards out along the peninsula.  It's very scenic with a road that winds around the coastline of the peninsula.  There's a little place called Portobello where I found a fabulous little gift shop with plenty of quirky cards and items. I've thoroughly enjoyed this drive on both occasions.

If you like a bit of fun and a challenge, there is one other must do place to visit in Dunedin before you leave.  Baldwin Street. The steepest street in the world! For those fit enough and keen enough for the workout, you can walk it.  Otherwise, even the drive is a challenge and it's not recommended you stop along the way.

Baldwin Street rises gently at first, then is extremely steep towards the end. Overall it rises 47.22 m over it's length of 161.2 m which is a gradient of 1 in 3.41 for those who understand such things.

The day I drove up, there were tourists breathlessly walking, stopping, walking and taking photo's of me driving up.  I arrived at the top to cheers!  How funny was that, given they were walking and would have deserved the cheers far more than me once they arrived at the top.

I have to say the U-turn at the top was a tad challenging, as was trying not to let the car run away on the way back down. If you're into that type of thing, I say give it a go, it's a hoot!

Driving down the East Coast of the South Island - part 2

I don't recall anything that particularly captured my attention on the drive from just below Kaikoura to Christchurch.  Perhaps that's due in part to the fact it had been a long day that started early in Wellington, North Island and included a trip on the Interislander Ferry before the drive from Picton to my arrival in Christchurch around 9.30 pm.

Last year, we flew into Christchurch and drove to Akaroa which is a pretty little French Provincial type of town, that sits in the heart of an ancient volcano.  The drive as you head down into Akaroa is beautiful which you will probably hear, or should I say read, me saying a lot when describing various parts of New Zealand as much of the scenery is simply gorgeous.

I was very keen to do a cruise as again, there is some very unique sea life in this part of New Zealand.  The smallest and rarest Hector Dolphins play in this part of the world and I was really hoping to see them.  However, the weather was not on our side that day and all cruises were cancelled.  So another one for the to do list!

Heading further down the coast is some beautiful coastline, particularly around the Timaru and Oamaru area. In Oamaru, you will find the Steampunk HQ Museum which is in a fantastic old building and houses some unique artworks.

Oamaru has some well preserved heritage buildings as well as stone buildings made from local limestone.  There is a Victorian precinct near the Steampunk HQ Museum where you will find an array of eclectic shops and some of the shopkeepers wearing Victorian clothing as well.  It's a great place to have a wander and a browse and you could easily spend a number of hours there.

The area is also known for it's little blue penguins and yellow eyed penguins, however, I didn't see any in my travels as I were there at the wrong time of day.  Sunset is the best time to see these little beauties.

Whitestone Cheese is also made in Oamaru.  I didn't get to visit their factory, however, I have tasted their cheeses and I'm a very big fan.  Their Moeraki Blue is delicious as are their soft cheeses, so some taste testing is highly recommended.

Further down the road is a little place named Moeraki where there are some large volcanic boulders scattered along the beach.  It's only a small place, so you need to watch for the signs (just south of Hampden).  

There is a cafe/restaurant and gift shop with a generous carpark.  You can take a walk down to the beach for a gold coin donation to look at these spectacular boulders.  I've seen them a few times now, but have never managed to be there with the right tides at either sunset or sunrise as I would love to photograph them then.  However, they are pretty amazing at any time of day.